“No, you haven’t seen anything yet. But you will. We’re going after a Resistance hive tomorrow.”
CHAPTER 58
The gamers took their positions on the arena platforms. Centered on the main floor, they formed a perfect square. The platforms were made from large sections of cut stone. Rungs of bars made a ladder leading up. Mandy was on top of her platform with Squawk sitting at her feet. The dragon had a collar with a golden tassel on his neck. Mandy wore a gold ascot and nothing else of the flashy gear they wore the day of the games.
The lighting in the room was more than ample now. Electricity from an unknown location powered overhead lights in the massive room. The oil lanterns gave the moody ambience more life.
Gabe stood at ground level with a spear like Harlan’s in his hand. Harlan’s heavy stare landed on him from time to time.
He either wants to eat me or kill me. Probably eat me and kill me. Big overprotective oaf.
The lower-level chairs of the coliseum were protected by a ten-foot-high partition wall. At the moment, there was a small audience consisting of many guards, the Count, Clovis, and members of the Dominion, sporting very colorful robes. One of the members was Mandy’s father, Oscar. The hawkish man stood out among his peers, aside from one Gabe took to be Fletcher’s father. The resemblance was uncanny.
Gunther faced the partition wall in front of the Count. His voice filled the arena when he spoke. “Shall I begin, Count?”
Count Angus nodded. “Do as you will, Gunther. Mind you, the other gamers are on a tight schedule. Keep this efficient.”
“As always.” Gunther lumbered inside the other tunnel that led into the Gamma Den. He came back moments later with metal crates on each shoulder. The metal mesh boxes were filled with rabbits. He set them in the center of the platform and opened one cage door and pulled a rabbit out by the ears. It was white with a black ring around one eye. He spoke boldly as if he were addressing thousands of people. “High members of the Dominion, let the Dragon Games begin. And so on, and so on, and so on,” he muttered.
“It’s only practice, mutant,” Fletcher said. “Just drop the rabbit. I’ll practice my hunt first, and we’ll go in the usual color order.” He pointed from platform to platform. “Black, blue, silver, and gold.”
“As you say, young liege.” Gunther set down the rabbit. Immediately, the quick creature sprang away. It didn’t stop until it came to the wall. Gunther moved back into the tunnel and watched.
Fletcher lifted his black ascot up over his eyes. “This is how to control your dragon.” He made some fighting-style gesticulations using his hands and feet. His dragon, Hoss, crawled to the edge of the platform, eyeing the rabbit. Blindfolded, Fletcher turned with the dragon. Without being able to see it, Fletcher pointed at the rabbit. “Fetch!”
Hoss hopped from the stage, wings flapping. The dragon padded toward the rabbit, head down with surprising ease. When Hoss was twenty feet from the rabbit, the bunny skipped ahead a few hops. The dragon slunk closer. His eyes narrowed.
Gabe and the other guards shifted in their positions. They all had full view of the oncoming chase. The tension was building. All eyes were forward. Normally in the games, the gamers’ assistants weren’t supposed to move, but in this case, it was fine. Gabe took a glimpse of Squawk. The dragon faced the middle and yawned. Gabe smirked, but still enthused, he moved forward as Mandy turned.
Hoss’s tail swished from side to side. The dragon flinched. The bunny hopped farther away. Suddenly, Hoss took off. He made a beeline for the rabbit fleeing along the outer circle of the wall. The dragon’s clawed paws moved with blurring speed. Hoss closed in.
The rabbit darted toward the inside of the arena in tight, jumping, zigzag patterns. Wherever the rabbit went, the dragon’s head followed. Hoss never lost sight of the varmint. His body shifted with the rabbit’s moves, back and forth, side to side.
“He’s still closing in,” Gabe marveled. The bigger dragons were even faster than the small ones. Better yet, they were trained. He stole a look up at Fletcher. The blindfolded elder gamer moved in unison with the dragon. His toes touched the rim of the platform as he turned side to side. His fingers followed the dragon’s every move. Gabe shook his head. He wasn’t sure he could do that. He skipped aside as the rabbit jumped into his path and darted away. Hoss raced right by him. “Whoa!”
Gabe was all caught up in it. There was nothing like watching the dragons chase down their prey. It was exhilarating to watch. Even the Dominion’s cheers were noticeable in the cavernous arena. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be like with thousands of raving fans packed inside.
Another minute of zigzagging runs went by. Hoss closed the gap. The dragon’s jaws locked on the rabbit’s hindquarters. The bunny spasmed for a quick moment then went limp. Like a great cat, Hoss returned to the base of the platform. The dragon set the rabbit down. The small creature’s chest expanded like a heartbeat, but its legs were broken.
“Well done, Hoss.” Fletcher removed his blindfold. “Well done.” He looked at Mandy and smirked. Many members of the audience clapped. “That’s what ten years of bonding with a dragon will do for you. You don’t stand a chance, newbie.”
Gabe stood flat-footed and confused. He’d doubted the amount of control the gamers had back in Newton. Perhaps they had a bond, but no control. This was different. These gamers were stronger. He could sense it. They actually had control over their dragons. But did Squawk have control of the dragons as well?
“Next up!” Gunther strode into the center ring and pulled out another bunny. “Blue.”
Standing on the rim of her platform, Mandy leaned toward Gabe and said in a harsh whisper, “Gabe, can you do better than that?”
He shrugged. “I hope.”
“You’d better not make a fool out of me, Gabe. If you do, I’ll make a fool out of you.”
CHAPTER 59
The twins, Roger and Sylvia, had the same superior control of their dragons that Fletcher did. With marvelous speed, the dragons, on their separate turns, tracked down the bunnies. Roger’s rabbit, Rex, tore the rabbit to shreds, sending blood and fur everywhere. Rixy, Sylvia’s dragon, climbed the ladder onto Sylvia’s platform and left the rabbit at her feet. The rabbit lay still, breathing rapidly, but fully intact. It was a display of masterful control.
“Gold, your turn has come!” Gunther held a rabbit by the neck. “This will end our practice of the Quick. The Hunt will be next.”
“Gabe, what should I do?” Mandy whispered.
“Just like before. Put your fingers to your temples or something. Try something different than the others.”
Gunther tossed the black rabbit to the ground. It took off in a sprint, splitting the blue and silver platforms and stopping at the wall.
Squawk sat like a dog at the front end of the platform. His eyes weren’t on the rabbit. They were on the people in the stands, who began to murmur.
Speaking out of the side of her mouth, Mandy said to Gabe, “Why isn’t he doing anything?”
Because I haven’t commanded him to. Gabe’s connection with his dragon gave him the firm impression that Squawk recognized someone in the stands. It was irritating Squawk.
“Is this the fantastic dragon from Newton that everyone was marveling about?” Fletcher laughed. “He seems rather stupid. Mandy, why don’t you give him a push, or better yet, maybe you should chase the rabbit yourself. That would be entertaining.”
“Shut up, Fletcher.” Her cheeks turned rosy. She glared at Gabe.
Gabe delighted in Mandy’s torment, but his good nature let his amusement end. He turned his focus to Squawk. Connected to his dragon, he visualized Squawk hunting the rabbit. Immediately, Squawk turned toward the rabbit. The dragon’s heart churned. So did Gabe’s. His nostrils flared along with the dragon’s. Squawk leapt from the platform. His wings flapped awkwardly, and he landed hard and tumbled.
Fletcher burst out laughing with his hand on his stomach. “Hah-hah-hah, tha
t’s the clumsiest dragon I’ve ever seen!”
Chuckles and jovial murmuring came from the Dominion. Even Clovis cracked a smile.
The skulking young dragon advanced toward the rabbit in an s pattern. The rabbit hopped farther from the dragon. Squawk launched himself full speed at the rabbit. With his claws scraping over the concrete floor, he made a beeline for the rabbit. At the last moment, the rabbit leapt away. Squawk skidded into the wall.
Fletcher roared with laughter. It carried into the crowd. Even the stone-faced Roger managed an out-loud chuckle.
“Sorry, I’m a little big rusty.” Mandy’s face was flushed red now. Her fingers seemed to bore holes into her temples as she fought to control Squawk, who was chasing after the rabbit in what seemed to be a clumsy manner compared to the others. The chase went on and on, for long agonizing minutes. Squawk closed in a few times, but the rabbit evaded his snapping jaws with ease. Ten minutes later, the rabbit’s quick bounces and hops slowed. Squawk seized it. He carried the prize to the blue platform and set it down.
“No, Squawk!” Mandy motioned for the dragon to come her way. Fletcher had laughed so hard through the entire routine that he didn’t have anything left. He just shook his head at Mandy. Finally, Squawk turned his neck toward the gold platform. He sauntered back, lay down before the platform, and curled up into a ball.
“Take a moment, gamers. Please, feed your dragons, and water your gullets. We’ll begin the Hunt in a few moments.” Gunther held a round time-keeping device in his hand and clicked its top lever. As the others chatted in the stands, the gamers cared for their dragons. Gunther headed into the tunnel.
Gabe backed up to the platform and said to Mandy, “He’ll get better.”
“You embarrassed the crap out of me,” she said. She was breathing heavily. “What is wrong with Squawk? He looked like a three-legged dog out there.”
“He’ll be fine.” Gabe picked the dragon up and put him on the platform. He winked at Squawk. Squawk winked back. Once the Hunt began, Gabe didn’t want to push too hard. He’d let the dragon glide through it and put on a show for them. Plus, it was too delicious to mess with Mandy. “Keep your chin up. He can only do better. He just has to get used to this arena.”
“The Hunt is next, Gabe. He’d better improve, or they will wipe him out in the Slaughter.”
“It’s only practice.” He looked back at the rabbit cages. “There must be twenty rabbits crammed in there. He’ll fetch you a few of them.”
“He’d better fetch me the most of them!”
Fletcher approached the gold platform. Looking up at Mandy he said, “Plenty of new dragons have a poor practice, but I’ve never seen one as poor as that. It would be a shame to see your dragon slaughtered during his first games. I can see to it that doesn’t happen though. After all, I have had the strongest dragon for several years running. Have dinner with me tonight, Mandy, and we’ll discuss it in my quarters.”
“Perhaps,” she said, turning up her nose.
“Don’t leave me hanging.” Fletcher winked at her then caught Gabe staring. “What did I say about looking at me?” He pulled a thumb knife and held it to Gabe’s eye. “I’ll cut your eye out, bastard. Move on to your station. And stay there!”
CHAPTER 60
Gunther dumped all of the rabbits out of their cages. The dragons all perched on the edges of their respective platforms with hungry eyes. The hairy-armed mutant man scattered the rabbits by swinging his hands low to the ground. Having the full attention of the small crowd behind the partition wall, he shouted, “Let the Hunt begin!”
All four dragons jettisoned themselves from the platform. They fluttered to the ground, one by one, with jaws snapping. The gamers made all sorts of cleverly created movements using their arms and bodies. In the end though, it was all about the Hunt.
Gabe had a strong sense of things. The dragons hunted with their own hungry leisure. The rabbit meat was a treat. Hoss plowed down the first rabbit he caught. He took it to the platform and chased another. Rex and Rixy did the same, capturing rabbits and taking them back to the platforms. They piled them up in a neat row.
I can’t believe they are doing that!
Minute after minute went by with all four dragons making a catch. The other dragons were catching two rabbits to Squawk’s one. Hoss caught three to Squawk’s one. Gabe wasn’t pushing Squawk. His fingers itched at his sides. He was convinced Squawk was fast, but these dragons were faster. It gnawed at his stomach. There was a bigger picture. The gamers were more formidable than he’d imagined.
Ten minutes into the Hunt, all of the wild rabbits were dead. Rabbit fur floated in the air. Squawk had caught three rabbits to Hoss’s nine, Rixy’s seven, and Rex’s six.
Roger yelled at Rex from his silver platform. “Quit eating, Rex. That will slow you down! Geez, he’ll sleep two days after this!” He jumped off of his platform and blocked the rabbits. Rex had a rabbit leg’s sticking out of his mouth. He gulped it down in one swallow. Roger pointed at the dragon. “No more, you scaly piglet.”
“The Hunt is over. Fletcher, as usual, wins.” Gunther addressed the Count. “What do you require, Count Agnus?”
“Keep it on schedule, Gunther. There is much to do before the games, and the other gamers need all the time they can get. Dismiss this round, and move on to the next.”
“Aye. Gamers! Return to the den. Well done!”
Mandy shook her head as she climbed off of her platform. “Well that went badly. What is wrong with him? I thought he was fast. I’m going to have to eat with that pervert to save us.”
“I don’t see what would be so bad about having dinner. What would he serve? Rabbit?”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “You are so naive, Gabe.”
With her bottom lip stuck out the entire time, Mandy returned to the den, put up her gear, and departed with Harlan.
All she said to Gabe was, “Do better, imbecile.”
Fletcher, Roger, and Silvia left with their guards. They all had smiles on their faces. Gabe briefly had the den to himself as he put Squawk back in his cage. Tim escorted the Count and Clovis inside the den and quickly departed.
“That was a very disappointing show, Gabe.” The Count looked into the dragon’s cage. “Is something wrong with your dragon? What I saw out there was an embarrassment. I thought your dragon was…special.”
“He was, but I think you know that someone did something to him. He’s not himself.” Gabe took the gold ascot off of his neck. “I can’t fix him.”
“So the dragon had his wings clipped. It was needed.” The Count continued to stare at Squawk. “We can’t have him flying away. That would be dangerous. And we can’t have him spitting fire either. That would be detrimental to the Dominion. But regardless, I still think that your dragon should function quite well. You have strong control, Gabe. You need to show it.”
“I don’t—”
The Count held up his finger. “The Dominion likes to gamble, Gabe. You see, with the games, comes gambling. Surely, you know what I am taking about.”
He nodded.
“Good. The Dominion likes to control the outcomes of things. They like to bet against one another and the citizens. I, too, like to be in control. You see, Gabe, they don’t know about you and Squawk. That is our secret. All they know is that Mandy brought another dragon from Newton, and they’ll want to destroy it. You see, Hoss is their champion. The citizens always bet on him. The Dominion counts on it. But what happens when Hoss loses?”
“The citizens lose a lot of money?”
“Precisely. And they riot.” The Count looked at Clovis. “You should have been here the last time it happened. The citizens almost turned the city apart. We had to turn the guards loose and use guns. Many died that day. I had no choice. It’s called a cleansing.” He turned on Gabe and put his hands on his shoulders. “Gabe, I need to know. Can your dragon win or not?”
“He needs more practice.”
Rubbing Gabe’s shoulders with st
rong fingers, the Count said, “You’d better make the most of it. Countless lives depend on it. You don’t want any more blood on your hands, do you Gabe?”
CHAPTER 61
The broken roads extended in many directions. Most of the roads were impassable. Trees and powerline poles had fallen in many places. Mudslides covered long sections of the defeated highway. The motorbikes and four-wheelers did well going around them, but Cookie’s truck wasn’t faring to well. It was raining.
“Dammit, Cookie! How many times can you get your truck stuck in a mudhole?” Dino hooked tow straps underneath the front end of the truck. The mud-covered road was up to his ankles. “I’m getting sick of this.”
“Hey, it’s not me. I need wipers, and some new rubber would be good. My wheels barely have a tread on them.” Cookie was inside his truck with his head stuck out of the window. He played with his windshield wipers. “See, this doesn’t keep my windshield clean. And I wouldn’t be stuck in this mudhole with new tires.”
“Ah, be quiet,” Dino said with a flip of his hand. He got onto his four-wheeler. He was built like a fire hydrant, and it sank under his weight. He shook the rain out of his beard and hair. He twisted around so he could see the truck. “Jack, get out of there! Get behind the truck and push. The rest of you riders, help him out!”
Four riders joined Jack. Cookie fired up his engine and revved it. “Now!” He gunned the gas. Mud spun out from underneath of the tires, coating the men in a layer of mud.
“Quit it, you idiot!” Skins said. The newly branded Deathrider spit out a mouthful of mud. “Wait until Dino starts pulling!”
“Yeah, okay, right.” Cookie waved back at the man who could kill him with a stare. “Sorry.”
Dino eased the four-wheeler forward. The towline went taut. The four wheels started to slip. “Push now!”
“Push now!” Cookie added.
Flight from the Dominion (The Gamma Earth Cycle Book 2) Page 18